Improvement in filters



. TAFT Improved Filter.

Patented-Dems,1871."

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HORATIO N. TAFT, OF SAG HARBOR, NEW YORK.

'IMPROVEMENT IN FILTERS.

Specilication forming part ot Letters Patent No. 122,291, dated December26, 1871.

Specication describing a certain Improvement in Filters, invented byHORATIO N. TAFT, of Sag Harbor, in the county of Suii'olk and State ofNew York.

The object of this invention is to furnisha new and improved filter forwater and other fluidsa filter which may readily be reversed forcleaning or used without reversing; and it consists in the construction,arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter set forth anddescribed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents a vertical centralsection of my improved iilter. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken onthe line x x of Fig. l. Y v

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is an outer cylinder or shell, of any desired shape, dimensions, ormaterial, provided with a head, B, at each end, the heads being soattached to the shell that they make water-tight joints therewith. Incach head is a tube, C, having therein a stopcockD. E is an innercylinder or vessel, of one-third (more or less) the diameter ofthe shellA, and of corresponding or other shape, which has two or more perforatedpartitions, F F, therein. G G are two perforated diaphragms or falseheads. Upon one of the sides of each 'is a iiange, H, by which theinterior cylinder E is kept in a central position in the shell. Thelinterior cylinder or part E is supported longitudinally by theperforated false heads Gr G.

On the `opposite or outer side of each of these false heads there is arim-ange, I, which is designed to reach the outer heads B B, as seen inthe drawing, so that the interior part E, while resting on the lowerfalse head, will really 4be supported by the lower head B, instead ofthe iange I. Any other device may be employed to support thel falseheads; but the arrangements should be such that the false heads Voreither of them can be readily taken out or putin. J J are valves ofsufficient .diameter to cover the ends of the interior cylinder or partE. These valves may be hinged to the false heads, as seen in thedrawing, or made to close down so as. to cover the end and exclude waterfrom the upper end of E when the lter is in operation. The lower valvewill drop by its own gravity and allow the water or other liquid to passupward, as indicated. K K are chambers inthe ends of the ilter, in whichthese valves work. These chamthe description already givenof theinterior of.

the filter it will be seen that the cylinder E is divided into threecompartments or chambers, {ghe center of which, M, is the pure-waterchamer. material, as sponge, sand, charcoal, or other substance. Theannular chamber P is also illed with gravel, sand, charcoal, or otherfiltering material. R R are discharge-pipes connecting with thepure-water chamber M, to whichthe discharge-cocks S S are attached,arranged so 'that when the tlter is reversed for cleaning the point ofdischarge will not be altered.

Whenwater is flowing into the tilter the contained iiltering materialmay bepartially cleansed by opening the lower cock D and allowing theliquid to tlow directly through. Ordinary iilters can be cleansed in lioother way except by removing the filtering material. By reversing orturning the iilter e'nd for end the impurities which have accumulatedupon the top of the filtering material are at once discharged, when thelower cock D is opened and the cleansing is complete. To facilitate thereversing of the filter I provide the outer cylinder or shell A withcentral trunnions T T, so that the filter may be supported thereby on asuitably-constructed frame or stand, and easily reversed thereon upondisconnecting the water-pipe or removing the tank L.

The perforated `false heads G G, as well as the perforated partitions FF, are made of cast metal or other material ot'suitable strength, andmay be covered on one or both sides with tin, wire-gauze, iiannel, orother suitable straining material.

By removing the dischargecocks S S and one of the headsB the entirecontents of the shellA may be taken out.

I do not limit or confine myself to the precise r form or arrangement ofany of the parts herein described, as they may bevariedin many ways Theother. two, N and O, contain iltering do I confine myself to areversible filter, as my improved filter may be usedl as ordinaryiilters are, if desired. Instead of making the shell A with iianges andconnecting the heads B B thereto by bolts, as seen in the drawing, theheads of the filter may be held to the shell by a single central bolt orscrew-rod, or by two or more screw-bolts or rods. In the former case thetubes C C would be placed one side of the center and the valve J Wouldslide up and down on the bolt instead of being hinged to the false head.'The valves J J may be opened and closed from the outside by means ofscrews or other device in-V stead of opening'and closing' by theirWeight; but I prefer thearrangement described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A reversible filter having valves J, bymeans ofwhich the flow of the water or other liquid is automatically controlled,substantially as described.

2. The chambers K K, or .their equivalent, in

combination with tubes C C and valves .I J, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

3. The interior cylinder or part E, withperfo poses described.

. .HORATIO N.

' Witnesses; Y A. W. ALMQvIs'r,

